Market Overview: U.S. Stocks Open Strongly
On January 28, 2026, the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange was a bustling sight. And now, looking at the latest developments, futures linked to the S&P 500 were hovering around the flatline as of Monday night, following a robust start to the month for U.S. stocks.
S&P 500 futures gained 0.06%, while Nasdaq 100 futures saw an uptick of nearly 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures added approximately 19 points, translating to about 0.1% growth.
In after-hours trading, shares of Palantir Technologies jumped about 6%. This surge followed positive quarterly results from defense technology firms, indicating a hopeful outlook. Meanwhile, during regular trading hours, major indices registered gains. The Dow climbed about 515 points, which is around 1.05%. The S&P 500 increased by 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose nearly 0.6%. Some well-known AI infrastructure stocks, like Sandisk, Western Digital, and Seagate, closed on a high note. However, Nvidia, unfortunately, saw a decline of almost 3% after a report suggested its plans to invest in OpenAI had fallen through.
In the cryptocurrency world, Bitcoin dropped to its lowest point since April, reflecting a lessened risk appetite among investors. Additionally, futures tied to silver and gold also continued to slide, following a significant sell-off last Friday.
This week, more than 100 S&P 500 companies are expected to release their earnings. Among those reporting soon are Advanced Micro Devices and Pfizer, with tech giants like Amazon and Alphabet set to follow suit later. Investors are particularly focused on these tech earnings, looking for indications of AI-driven growth, especially after the market’s reaction to Microsoft’s results last week.
Dan Greenhouse, a strategist at Alternative Asset Management at Solus, noted during CNBC’s “Closing Bell” that the factors fueling risk assets include a less aggressive stance from the Federal Reserve, a solid economic backdrop, and the tariff environment not worsening. He mentioned, “The AI story is still driving the market.”
Looking ahead, Greenhouse suggested that February could bring some volatility, but the underlying drivers of the market remain intact.
